Metal pretreatment modification for improved throwpower

ABSTRACT

A pretreatment composition and a method for pretreating a metal substrate is disclosed. The method comprises:
         (a) pretreating the metal substrate with a Group IV(b) metal ion, followed by   (b) treating the substrate of (a) with a composition comprising:
           (i) a Group IV(b) metal ion,   (ii) a copper ion,   (iii) a fluoride ion, and   (iv) an organophosphonic acid, followed by   
           (c) electrodepositing a cationic electrodepositable composition on the metal substrate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to metal pretreatment compositions and to methods for treating a metal substrate prior to painting using the metal pretreatment compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of protective coatings on metal substrates for improved corrosion resistance and paint adhesion is common. Conventional techniques for coating such substrates include techniques that involve pretreating the metal substrate with a phosphate conversion coating and chrome-containing rinses. The use of such phosphate and/or chromate-containing compositions, however, imparts environmental and health concerns. As a result, chromate-free and/or phosphate-free pretreatment compositions have been developed. Such compositions are generally based on chemical mixtures that in some way react with the substrate surface and bind to it to form a protective layer. For example, pretreatment compositions based on a Group IV(b) metal compound have recently become more prevalent.

After pretreating the substrates with pretreatment compositions, it is also common to subsequently contact the pretreated substrates with an electrodepositable coating composition. Both cationic and anionic electrodepositions are used commercially, with cationic being more prevalent in applications desiring a high level of corrosion protection. Unfortunately, many pretreatment compositions based on Group IV(b) metal compounds, particularly those containing copper ions, when used to treat metal substrates prior to the application of a cationic electrodepositable coating composition, result in relatively poor throwpower of the electrodepositable coating composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In certain respects, the present invention is directed to a composition for treating metal substrates comprising a Group IV(b) metal ion and a copper ion, fluoride ion and an organophosphonic acid.

In still other respects, the present invention is directed to methods for pretreating a metal substrate comprising contacting the substrate by first pretreating the metal substrate with a Group IV(b) metal ion followed by treating the pretreated substrate with the above-described composition, followed by electrodepositing a cationic electrodepositable coating on the treated substrate.

The organophosphonic acid has been found to result in an increase in throwpower of the subsequently applied cationic electrodepositable coating composition compared to pretreating the metal substrate with a pretreatment composition without the organophosphonic acid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a box used for determining throwpower; and

FIG. 2 is a view showing schematically the evaluation of throwpower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of the following detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of ingredients used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard variation found in their respective testing measurements.

Also, it should be understood that any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of “1 to 10” is intended to include all sub-ranges between (and including) the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum value of 10, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and a maximum value of equal to or less than 10.

In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural and plural encompasses singular, unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, in this application, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless specifically stated otherwise, even though “and/or” may be explicitly used in certain instances.

As previously mentioned, certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to compositions for treating metal substrates and to methods for treating metal substrates. Suitable metal substrates for use in the present invention include those that are often used in the assembly of automotive bodies, automotive parts, and other articles, such as small metal parts, including fasteners, i.e., nuts, bolts, screws, pins, nails, clips, buttons, and the like. Specific examples of suitable metal substrates include, but are not limited to, cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, steel coated with zinc metal, zinc compounds, or zinc alloys, such as electrogalvanized steel, hot-dipped galvanized steel, galvanealed steel, and steel plated with zinc alloy. Also, aluminum alloys, aluminum plated steel and aluminum alloy plated steel substrates may be used. Other suitable non-ferrous metals include copper and magnesium, as well as alloys of these materials. Moreover, the bare metal substrate being coating by the methods of the present invention may be a cut edge of a substrate that is otherwise treated and/or coated over the rest of its surface. The metal substrate coated in accordance with the methods of the present invention may be in the form of, for example, a sheet of metal or a fabricated part.

The substrate to be treated in accordance with the compositions and methods of the present invention may first be cleaned to remove grease, dirt, or other extraneous matter. This is often done by employing mild or strong alkaline cleaners, such as are commercially available and conventionally used in metal pretreatment processes. Examples of alkaline cleaners suitable for use in the present invention include Chemkleen 2010 LP, Chemkleen 163, Chemkleen 177, and Chemkleen 490MX, each of which are commercially available from PPG Industries. Such cleaners are often followed and/or preceded by a water rinse.

As previously indicated, certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to compositions and to methods for treating a metal substrate that comprise contacting the metal substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IV(b) metal ion. As used herein, the terms “treatment composition” and “pretreatment composition” refer to a composition that is applied to a metal substrate prior to the application of a pigmented coating or paint, particularly an electrodeposited coating. It is believed the treatment composition upon contact with the substrate reacts with and chemically alters the substrate surface and binds to it to form a protective layer enhancing the adhesion and corrosion performance of the subsequently applied pigmented coating.

The treatment composition comprises a carrier, often an aqueous medium, so that the composition is in the form of a solution of a Group IV(b) metal compound in the carrier. In these embodiments, the solution is brought into contact with the substrate by any of a variety of known techniques, such as dipping or immersion, spraying, intermittent spraying, dipping followed by spraying, spraying followed by dipping, brushing, or roll-coating. In certain embodiments, the solution or dispersion when applied to the metal substrate is at a temperature ranging from 60 to 150° F. (15 to 65° C.). The contact time is often from 10 seconds to five minutes, such as 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

As used herein, the term “Group IV(b) metal” refers to an element that is in Group IV(b) of the CAS Periodic Table of the Elements as is shown, for example, in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 63^(rd) edition (1983). The Group IV(b) metal compound is at least partially soluble in the carrier resulting in a Group IV(b) metal ion.

In certain embodiments, the Group IV(b) metal compound used in the treatment composition is a compound of zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and mixtures thereof. Suitable compounds of zirconium include, but are not limited to, hexafluorozirconic acid, alkali metal and ammonium salts thereof, ammonium zirconium carbonate, zirconyl nitrate, zirconium carboxylates and zirconium hydroxy carboxylates, such as hydrofluorozirconic acid, zirconium acetate, zirconium oxalate, ammonium zirconium glycolate, ammonium zirconium lactate, ammonium zirconium citrate, and mixtures thereof. Suitable compounds of titanium include, but are not limited to, fluorotitanic acid and its salts. A suitable compound of hafnium includes, but is not limited to, hafnium nitrate.

In certain embodiments, the Group IV(b) metal ion is present in the treatment composition in an amount of at least 10 parts per million (ppm) metal, such as at least 100 ppm metal, or, in some cases, at least 150 ppm metal. In certain embodiments, the Group IV(b) metal ion is present in the treatment composition in an amount of no more than 5000 ppm metal, such as no more than 300 ppm metal, or, in some cases, no more than 250 ppm metal. The amount of Group IV(b) metal in the treatment composition can range between any combination of the recited values inclusive of the recited values. The ppm are based on elemental metal and on total weight of the treatment composition and elemental Group IV(b) metal.

The treatment composition also comprises copper ion.

The source of copper ion in the treatment composition is a copper salt at least partially soluble in the carrier. Specific examples of copper compounds, which are suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, copper cyanide, copper potassium cyanide, copper sulfate, copper nitrate, copper pyrophosphate, copper thiocyanate, disodium copper ethylenediaminetetraacetate tetrahydrate, copper bromide, copper oxide, copper hydroxide, copper chloride, copper fluoride, copper gluconate, copper citrate, copper lauroyl sarcosinate, copper formate, copper acetate, copper propionate, copper butyrate, copper lactate, copper oxalate, copper phytate, copper tartarate, copper malate, copper succinate, copper malonate, copper maleate, copper benzoate, copper salicylate, copper aspartate, copper glutamate, copper fumarate, copper glycerophosphate, sodium copper chlorophyllin, copper fluorosilicate, copper fluoroborate and copper iodate, as well as copper salts of carboxylic acids in the homologous series formic acid to decanoic acid, copper salts of polybasic acids in the series oxalic acid to suberic acid, and copper salts of hydroxycarboxylic acids, including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, malic and citric acids.

When copper ions supplied from a water-soluble copper compound are precipitated as an impurity in the form of copper sulfate, copper oxide, etc., it may be preferable to add a complexing agent that suppresses the precipitation of copper ions, thus stabilizing them as a copper complex in the solution.

In certain embodiments, the copper compound is added as a copper complex salt such as K₃Cu(CN)₄ or Cu-EDTA, which can be present stably in the composition on its own, but it is also possible to form a copper complex that can be present stably in the composition by combining a complexing agent with a compound that is difficulty soluble on its own. Examples thereof include a copper cyanide complex formed by a combination of CuCN and KCN or a combination of CuSCN and KSCN or KCN, and a Cu-EDTA complex formed by a combination of CuSO₄ and EDTA.2Na.

With regard to the complexing agent, a compound that can form a complex with copper ions can be used; examples thereof include inorganic compounds, such as cyanide compounds and thiocyanate compounds, and polycarboxylic acids, and specific examples thereof include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, such as dihydrogen disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate, aminocarboxylic acids, such as nitrilotriacetic acid and iminodiacetic acid, oxycarboxylic acids, such as citric acid and tartaric acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid, and glycine.

The copper ion is present in the treatment compositions in an amount of at least 1 ppm, such as at least 5 ppm, or in some cases, at least 10 ppm. In certain embodiments, the copper ion is included in such treatment compositions in an amount of no more than 500 ppm, such as no more than 100 ppm, or in some cases, no more than 40 ppm of total metal (measured as elemental metal). The amount of copper ion in the treatment composition can range between any combination of the recited values inclusive of the recited values. The amount of copper is based on total weight of the treatment composition and elemental copper.

The treatment compositions further contain a fluorine ion or free fluorine. The supply source of the fluorine on is not particularly limited; examples thereof include fluorides such as hydrofluoric acid (HF), ammonium fluoride (NH₄F), fluoroboric acid, ammonium hydrogen fluoride (NH₄HF₂), sodium fluoride (NaF), and sodium hydrogen fluoride (NaHF). Typically, the fluorine ion is present in the treatment composition in amounts of 20 to 300, usually 50 to 200 ppm. The amount is based on elemental fluorine and total weight of the treatment composition.

The organophosphonic acid compound means an organic compound containing a phosphonic group (—PO₃H₂), and this compound is preferably a compound in which the phosphonic group (—PO₃H₂) combines with an organo group containing 6 or less carbon atoms, usually 2 to 4 carbon atoms. The organophosphonic acid is typically a monophosphonic acid. Examples of suitable phosphonic acids are butyl phosphonic acid, pentyl phosphonic acid and hexyl phosphonic acid.

The organophosphonic acid compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The amount of the organophosphonic acid typically has a lower limit of 15 ppm and an upper limit of 500 ppm. When the amount is less than 15 ppm, there is negligible increase in throwpower of the subsequently applied electrodeposition coating. Amounts greater than 500 ppm do not have a beneficial effect of increasing throwpower. Usually, the lower limit is 15 ppm and the upper limit is 50 ppm. The amount is based on elemental phosphorus and total weight of the treatment composition.

The treatment composition may include additives such as surfactants that function as defoamers or substrate wetting agents. Anionic, cationic, amphoteric, or nonionic surfactants may be used. Compatible mixtures of such materials are also suitable. Defoaming surfactants are often present at levels up to 1 percent, such as up to 0.1 percent by volume, and wetting agents are often present at levels up to 2 percent, such as up to 0.5 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the solution.

The treatment composition usually has a pH between 3 and 7. The solids content of the treatment composition typically is from about 0.1 to 10% resin solids.

In certain embodiments, the film coverage of the residue of the treatment composition generally ranges from 1 to 1000 milligrams per square meter (mg/m²), such as 10 to 400 mg/m². The thickness of the treatment coating can vary, but it is generally very thin, often having a thickness of less than 1 micrometer, in some cases it is from 1 to 500 nanometers, and, in yet other cases, it is 10 to 300 nanometers.

Following contact with the treatment composition, the substrate may be rinsed with water and dried.

The corrosion resistance of the treated metal substrates can be enhanced by pretreating, usually by prerinsing the substrate with a Group IV(b) metal ion prior to the application of the treatment composition. Typically, the prerinse is applied after the metal has been cleaned with an alkaline cleaner and rinsed with deionized water.

Typically, a solution of the Group IV(b) metal ion is contacted with the substrate by any of a variety of techniques, including dipping or immersion, spraying, intermittent spraying, dipping followed by spraying, spraying followed by dipping, brushing, or roll-coating. In certain embodiments, a dipping or immersion technique is used and the solution, when applied to the metal substrate, is at a temperature ranging from about room temperature to a slightly elevated temperature of up to about 140° F. (about 15 to 60° C.). The contact time is often from 10 seconds to five minutes, such as 30 seconds to 2 minutes. After removal of the bare substrate from the solution, the substrate is usually rinsed with water and dried.

The pretreatment solution referenced above is often an aqueous solution of a water soluble Group IV(b) metal such as the zirconium and titanium compounds mentioned above.

Typically, the Group IV(b) metal ion is included in the pretreatment solution in an amount of at least 1 ppm, such as at least 50 ppm, or, in some cases, at least 100 ppm. In certain embodiments, the Group IV(b) metal ion is included in the solution in an amount of no more than 5,000 ppm, such as no more than 1,000 ppm, or, in some cases, no more than 300 ppm. The amount of Group IV(b) metal ion in the solution can range between any combination of the recited values inclusive of the recited values. In certain embodiments, the Group IV(b) metal ion included in the solution is between about 5 and 100 ppm. The amount of the Group IV(b) metal is based on elemental Group IV(b) metal and total weight of the pretreatment solution.

After the metal substrate has been contacted with the treatment composition, the metal substrate is then contacted with a cationic electrodepositable coating composition comprising a film-forming resin.

As used herein, the term “film-forming resin” refers to resins that can form a self-supporting continuous film on at least a horizontal surface of a substrate upon removal of any diluents or carriers present in the composition or upon curing at ambient or elevated temperature. Conventional film-forming resins that may be used include, without limitation, those typically used in automotive OEM coating compositions.

In certain embodiments, the coating composition comprises a thermosetting film-forming resin. As used herein, the term “thermosetting” refers to resins that “set” irreversibly upon curing or crosslinking, wherein the polymer chains of the polymeric components are joined together by covalent bonds. This property is usually associated with a crosslinking reaction of the composition constituents often induced, for example, by heat or radiation. Curing or crosslinking reactions also may be carried out under ambient conditions. Once cured or crosslinked, a thermosetting resin will not melt upon the application of heat and is insoluble in solvents. In other embodiments, the coating composition comprises a thermoplastic film-forming resin. As used herein, the term “thermoplastic” refers to resins that comprise polymeric components that are not joined by covalent bonds and thereby can undergo liquid flow upon heating and are soluble in solvents.

As previously indicated, in certain embodiments, the substrate is contacted with a coating composition comprising a film-forming resin by an electrocoating step wherein an electrodepositable composition is deposited onto the metal substrate by electrodeposition. In the process of electrodeposition, the metal substrate being treated, serving as an electrode, and an electrically conductive counter electrode are placed in contact with an ionic, electrodepositable composition. Upon passage of an electric current between the electrode and counter electrode while they are in contact with the electrodepositable composition, an adherent film of the electrodepositable composition will deposit in a substantially continuous manner on the metal substrate.

Electrodeposition is usually carried out at a constant voltage in the range of from 1 volt to several thousand volts, typically between 50 and 500 volts. Current density is usually between 1.0 ampere and 15 amperes per square foot (10.8 to 161.5 amperes per square meter) and tends to decrease quickly during the electrodeposition process, indicating formation of a continuous self-insulating film.

The electrodepositable composition utilized in certain embodiments of the present invention often comprises a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium wherein the resinous phase comprises: (a) an active hydrogen group-containing cationic electrodepositable resin, and (b) a curing agent having functional groups reactive with the active hydrogen groups of (a).

A wide variety of electrodepositable film-forming resins are known and can be used in the present invention so long as the polymers are “water dispersible”, i.e., adapted to be solubilized, dispersed or emulsified in water. The water dispersible polymer is cationic in nature, that is, the polymer will contain cationic functional groups to impart a positive charge.

Examples of such cationic film-forming resins include amine salt group-containing resins, such as the acid-solubilized reaction products of polyepoxides and primary or secondary amines, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,663,389; 3,984,299; 3,947,338; and 3,947,339. Often, these amine salt group-containing resins are used in combination with a blocked isocyanate curing agent. The isocyanate can be fully blocked, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,299, or the isocyanate can be partially blocked and reacted with the resin backbone, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,338. Also, one-component compositions as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,866 and DE-OS No. 2,707,405 can be used as the film-forming resin. Besides the epoxy-amine reaction products, film-forming resins can also be selected from cationic acrylic resins, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,455,806 and 3,928,157.

Besides amine salt group-containing resins, quaternary ammonium salt group-containing resins can also be employed, such as those formed from reacting an organic polyepoxide with a tertiary amine salt as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,165; 3,975,346; and 4,001,101. Examples of other cationic resins are ternary sulfonium salt group-containing resins and quaternary phosphonium salt-group containing resins, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,793,278 and 3,984,922, respectively. Also, film-forming resins which cure via transesterification, such as described in European Application No. 12463 can be used. Further, cationic compositions prepared from Mannich bases, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,932, can be used.

In certain embodiments, the active hydrogen-containing cationic electrodepositable resin is present in the electrodepositable composition in an amount of 1 to 60 percent by weight, such as 5 to 25 percent by weight, based on total weight of the electrodeposition bath.

The polyisocyanate curing agents are typically utilized in conjunction with the active hydrogen containing cationic electrodepositable resin in amounts ranging from 5 percent to 60 percent by weight, such as from 20 percent to 50 percent by weight, the percentages based on the total weight of the resin solids of the electrodepositable composition.

The electrodepositable compositions described herein are in the form of an aqueous dispersion. The term “dispersion” is believed to be a two-phase transparent, translucent or opaque resinous system in which the resin is in the dispersed phase and the water is in the continuous phase. The average particle size of the resinous phase is generally less than 1.0 and usually less than 0.5 microns, often less than 0.15 micron.

The concentration of the resinous phase in the aqueous medium is often at least 1 percent by weight, such as from 2 to 60 percent by weight, based on total weight of the aqueous dispersion. When such compositions are in the form of resin concentrates, they generally have a resin solids content of 20 to 60 percent by weight based on weight of the aqueous dispersion.

After deposition, the coating is often heated to cure the deposited composition. The heating or curing operation is often carried out at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 250° C., such as from 120 to 190° C. for a period of time ranging from 10 to 60 minutes. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the resultant film is from 10 to 50 microns.

Illustrating the invention are the following examples that are not to be considered as limiting the invention to their details. All parts and percentages in the examples, as well as throughout the specification, are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLES

As defined herein, the ability for an electrodepositable coating composition to coat interior recesses of a substrate, at a given temperature and voltage, is called “throwpower”. A higher “throwpower” means that the electrodepositable coating composition is further “thrown” into the recesses of a recessed substrate. Higher throwpower therefore is synonymous with greater surface coverage on hard to reach recessed areas of a substrate.

The throwpower was evaluated in accordance with the “Nagoya Box Method” as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The Nagoya Box 10 has 4 parallel metal plates 1, 2, 3 and 4 having dimensions of 6.9 cm (w)×15.2 cm (l) with a distance of 20 mm between them with the bottom and sides sealed. Through holes 5 of diameter 1.6 cm are centered 5 cm from the bottom edge of the metal plates 1, 2 and 3 but not 4.

The box 10 was immersed into an electrodeposition coating container 20 filled with a cathodic electrodeposition coating material. In this case, the cathodic electrodeposition coating material flows into the box 10 only from each through hole 5.

While stirring the cathodic electrodeposition coating material, the metal plates 1 to 4 are electrically connected and a counter electrode 21 was disposed at a distance of 150 mm from the metal plate 1. A voltage is applied to the metal plates 1-4 as a negative electrode and the counter electrode 21 as a positive electrode to conduct a cathodic electrodeposition coating.

The box 10 was immersed in an electrodepositable composition (ED 7000Z from PPG Industries) heated to 32° C. that was magnetically stirred. Each panel served as a cathode that was electrically connected to a counter electrode spaced 150 mm from the first panel. Voltage was applied to the panels for a duration in which there was an initial 30 s ramp imposed to rise to maximum voltage. The maximum voltage applied was determined as the value that would result in the formation of an electrodeposited coating on A face that was 20 microns thick after 180 seconds. In subsequent experiments, the duration of time that maximum voltage was applied was determined by monitoring the coating that developed on G face. In these experiments, voltage was applied on a timescale that would result in the formation of an electrodeposited coating on G face that was 20 microns thick with complete coverage of the panel face and uniform thickness.

The coated panels were rinsed thoroughly in deionized water and placed in an electric oven heated to 175° C. for 25 minutes. The thickness and uniformity of the coating on each panel face was evaluated in 4 regions positioned at right angles spaced 1 mm away from the center hole on 1, 2 and 3 panels. These locations were also examined on the face of 4 panel which did not contain a hole. In order to assess the throwpower of the electrodepositable composition over different pretreated surfaces, the film thickness on G face was divided by the film thickness on A face. The change in throwpower imparted by adding organophosphonic acid to the pretreatment was observed by normalizing the throwpower of the control pretreated surface which contained no organophosphonic acid to “0”.

For testing, a number of treatment compositions were prepared with various organophosphonic acids and a control with no organophosphonic acids.

The treatment composition had the following basic formulation: 175 ppm Zr, 20 ppm Cu, pH 4.6-4.7, and 70-75 ppm free fluoride. Each pretreatment bath was prepared in the following manner. To a clean 5-gallon bucket was added 16.9 g fluorozirconic acid (45 wt. % in water, PPG Industries), 20.0 g copper nitrate solution (2 wt. % Cu in deionized (DI) water), and 10.0 g Chemfos AFL (PPG Industries). If applicable, the phosphonic acid was then added to the pretreatment bath to give the appropriate level of elemental phosphorus. The bath was brought to a pH of 4.6-4.7 with Chemfil buffer, which is an alkaline material available from PPG Industries. For DEQUEST 2010, only 1.1 g of Chemfos AFL was added instead of 10.0 g. For hexylphosphonic acid, the free fluoride was measured to be 95-100 ppm instead of the expected 70-75 ppm.

To the basic formulation was added the following organophosphonic acids in the following amounts expressed as parts per million (ppm) based on elemental phosphorus.

Control No added Organophosphonic Acid Butyl Phosphonic Acid  7.6 ppm Butyl Phosphonic Acid 15.0 ppm Butyl Phosphonic Acid 30.0 ppm Butyl Phosphonic Acid 45.0 ppm Phosphoric Acid   30 ppm Ethyl Phosphonic Acid   30 ppm Vinyl Phosphonic Acid   30 ppm Hexyl Phosphonic Acid   30 ppm Dibutyl Phosphate   30 ppm DEQUEST 2010¹   30 ppm ¹Hydroxyethylidine-1,1-diphosphonic acid.

Cold rolled steel panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 as shown in FIG. 2 were treated with the above compositions as follows. Cold rolled steel panels were obtained from ACT (Item #26920, unpolish, cut only, 150×70 mm). Panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 were degreased for two minutes at 120° F. (49° C.) in a spray tank. The alkaline cleaner was comprised of 1.25 wt % Chemkleen 2010LP (PPG Industries) and 0.13 wt % Chemkleen 181ALP (PPG Industries) in DI water. After degreasing, the panels were immersed in DI water for 30 seconds followed by a 30 second DI spray rinse. After rinsing, the panels were immersed in the Zr-pretreatment bath for two minutes at 80° F. (27° C.). The panels were then spray rinsed with DI water for 30 seconds and were dried with hot air for five minutes at 130° F. (54° C.).

The treated panels were then tested for throwpower as described above. The results are reported in Table I below.

Also evaluated were treated panels prepared as described above but in which the panels were pretreated with a zirconium rinse. The zirconium rinse pretreatment composition was prepared as follows: 200 ppm Zr, 155 ppm free fluoride, pH 3.48. To a spray tank was added 19.96 g fluorozirconic acid followed by 30.0 g Chemfos AFL. The solution was neutralized with Chemfil buffer to a pH of 3.48.

The cold rolled steel panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 were pretreated in the same manner as when no Zr rinse was applied. However, the zirconium rinse step was applied for one minute at 75° F. (24° C.) between the DI spray rinse stage and the immersion Zr-pretreatment stage.

All panels that were pretreated were analyzed by XRF to understand the coating composition. Using an Axios Max-Advance X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrophotometer (PANanytical, Almelo, the Netherlands), the weight percentage of zirconium, copper, and phosphorus could be determined for each pretreatment combination. The results are reported in the table below.

Zr Additive, ppm Elemental Weight % Weight % Weight % Rinse Phosphorus Zirconium Copper Phosphorus No Control 1.3 3.9 0.007 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 7.5 0.90 4.1 0.067 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 15 0.63 4.3 0.090 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.37 4.8 0.097 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 45 0.3 4.8 0.11 No Phosphoric Acid, 30 0.58 3.5 0.34 No Ethyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.35 4.1 0.064 No Vinyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.35 3.5 0.067 No Hexyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.56 4.7 0.063 No Dibutyl Phosphate, 30 1.4 4.8 0.009 No DEQUEST 2010, 30 1.2 3.3 0.16 Yes Control 1.8 6.2 0.010 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 7.5 1.3 4.7 0.085 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 15 0.92 5.1 0.11 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.63 5.2 0.12 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 45 0.60 5.7 0.15 Yes Phosphoric Acid, 30 0.74 5.1 0.42 Yes Ethyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.75 6.1 0.12 Yes Vinyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 0.66 5.6 0.11 Yes Hexyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 1.2 5.9 0.047 Yes Dibutyl Phosphate, 30 1.7 5.2 0.019 Yes DEQUEST 2010, 30 1.4 5.0 0.22

The throwpower results for these metal panels are also reported in Table I below. For comparison purposes, the control treated panel containing no additive without or with a Zr pre-rinse was used to normalize to “0” for each set of data in which additives were incorporated in the control pretreatment that was applied without or with a Zr pre-rinse. This determined if incorporating the additive resulted in a significant improvement over the control panel. Positive values indicate increased throwpower and improvement over the control.

TABLE I Throwpower Evaluation Additive, ppm Elemental Normalized Zr Rinse Phosphorus Throwpower (%) throwpower (%) No Control 52 0 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 7.5 80 54 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 15 72 37 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 80 53 No Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 45 83 59 No Phosphoric Acid, 30 73 41 No Ethyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 73 39 No Vinyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 74 41 No Hexyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 60 16 No Dibutyl Phosphate, 30 52 −1 No DEQUEST 2010, 30 65 24 Yes Control 64 0 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 7.5 68 7 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 15 68 6 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 74 17 Yes Butyl Phosphonic Acid, 45 81 28 Yes Phosphoric Acid, 30 66 4 Yes Ethyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 74 16 Yes Vinyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 69 8 Yes Hexyl Phosphonic Acid, 30 77 22 Yes Dibutyl Phosphate, 30 59 −8 Yes DEQUEST 2010, 30 73 14

As will be appreciated by the foregoing description, the present invention is directed to a composition for treating a metal substrate comprising a Group IV(b) metal ion, a copper ion, a fluoride ion and an organophosphonic acid and to methods for coating a metal substrate comprising: (a) contacting the metal substrate with a Group IV(b) metal ion, (b) contacting the substrate with a treatment composition comprising a Group IV(b) metal ion, copper ion, free fluorine and an organophosphonic acid, and (c) electrophoretically depositing a cationic electrodepositable coating composition onto the substrate.

The three steps (a), (b) and (c) are typically done sequentially without any intervening steps or processes. In certain other embodiments, one or more intervening steps or processes may occur between any of steps (a), (b) and/or (c).

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been described in terms of “comprising”, embodiments consisting essentially of or consisting of are also within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A composition for treating a metal substrate comprising: (a) a Group IV(b) metal ion, (b) a copper ion, (c) a fluoride ion, and (d) an organophosphonic acid.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein (a) is derived from a zirconium compound or mixtures of zirconium compounds.
 3. The composition of claim 1 in which (c) is derived from the group comprising HF, NH₄F, NH₄HF₂, NaF and NaHF₂.
 4. The composition of claim 1 in which the organophosphonic acid is a monophosphonic acid.
 5. The composition of claim 1 in which the organo group of the organophosphonic acid has 6 or less carbon atoms.
 6. The composition of claim 1 in which the organo group of the organophosphonic acid has from 2 to 4 carbon atoms.
 7. The composition of claim 1 in which (a) is present in the composition in amounts of 50 to 300 parts per million (ppm) based on elemental metal and on total weight of the composition.
 8. The composition of claim 1 in which (b) is present in the composition in amounts of 5 to 40 ppm based on elemental copper and on total weight of the composition.
 9. The composition of claim 1 in which (c) is present in the composition in amounts of 50 to 200 ppm based on elemental fluorine and on total weight of the composition.
 10. The composition of claim 1 in which (d) is present in the composition in amounts of 15 to 50 ppm based on elemental phosphorus and on total weight of the composition.
 11. A method for coating a metal substrate comprising: (a) pretreating the metal substrate with a Group IV(b) metal ion, followed by (b) treating the substrate of (a) with a composition comprising: (i) a Group IV(b) metal ion, (ii) a copper ion, (iii) a fluoride ion, and (iv) an organophosphonic acid, followed by (c) electrodepositing a cationic electrodepositable composition on the substrate of (b).
 12. The method of claim 11 in which the Group IV(b) metal ion of (a) is derived from a zirconium compound or mixture of zirconium compounds.
 13. The method of claim 12 in which the Group IV(b) metal ion of (a) is present in an aqueous composition in amounts of 50 to 300 ppm based on elemental Group IV(b) metal and on the total weight of the composition.
 14. The method of claim 11 in which the Group IV(b) metal ion of (b) (i) is derived from a zirconium compound or mixtures of zirconium compounds.
 15. The method of claim 11 in which the organophosphonic acid is a monophosphonic acid.
 16. The method of claim 11 in which the organo group of the organophosphonic acid has 6 or less carbon atoms.
 17. The method of claim 11 in which the organo group of the organophosphonic acid has from 2 to 4 carbon atoms.
 18. The method of claim 11 in which (b) (i) is present in the composition in amounts of 50 to 300 ppm based on elemental Group IV(b) metal and on total weight of the composition.
 19. The method of claim 11 in which (b) (ii) is present in the composition in amounts of 5 to 40 ppm based on elemental copper and on total weight of the composition.
 20. The method of claim 11 in which (b) (iii) is present in the composition in amounts of 50 to 200 ppm based on elemental fluorine and on total weight of the composition.
 21. The method of claim 11 in which (b) (iv) is present in the composition in amounts of 15 to 50 ppm based on elemental phosphorus and on total weight of the composition. 